Appeals Court Blocks Reinstatement of 1,000 Voice of America Staff

A three-judge panel of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit issued a stay on April 1, 2026, suspending a lower court order that required the Trump administration to reinstate over 1,000 Voice of America (VOA) employees. The staffers had been placed on paid administrative leave following an executive order by Donald Trump to shut down or shrink the government-funded broadcaster, which the administration claimed produced left-wing propaganda.

The stay halts a March 17 ruling by U.S. District Judge Royce Lamberth, who had ordered the restoration of VOA operations. While the appeals court paused the return-to-work mandate, it did not overturn Judge Lamberth's finding that the appointment of Kari Lake to lead the U.S. Agency for Global Media (USAGM) was illegal and that she lacked the legal authority for her actions in winding down the broadcaster.

Over 1,000 journalists and staff will remain on administrative leave for several months while the court weighs the case. During this period, the USAGM has begun seeking international service contract reporters rather than reinstating full-time roles. VOA Director Michael Abramowitz and other plaintiffs have urged the government to restore global operations to prioritize broadcast journalism over propaganda.